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A few weeks ago Kodak announced they were considering alternatives for their Health Group, which includes the dental systems. The press release is here: [1]
What most analysts feel is that the announcement means that the group is for sale. The reaction of many people has been anxiety and uncertainty. That is understandable whenever there is a change like this and the future is uncertain it is frightening.
I have been a strong advocate for the Kodak products for years going back to Trophy and to a lesser extent Practice Works. I believe the underlying value of these systems is still present. I do not believe that the sale of the businesses by Kodak means they are in danger of failing. In fact they show very strong revenue (2.7 billion in 2005) which is one reason Kodak is considering selling them off. That is, the income from the sale will help improve the overall financial picture for Kodak which has been hit extremely hard by the decline of the film business.
So my advice; don’t panic and jump ship if you are a Kodak user. As a potential buyer this announcement does add another element of risk. On the other hand the quality of the products and the superior infrastructure of development, support and training that Kodak has created is still in place.

[1] http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=2709&pq-locale=en_US&gpcid=0900688a8051247a

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If you have ever viewed a picture on a computer screen you have used digital image management. In the dental office image management can be anything from simply viewing a patient photo to enhancing a digital radiograph with advanced diagnostic software. In its simplest form image management is like an electronic photo album. It allows you to capture store retrieve and display an image. However unlike a paper photo album with digital image management you can do two additional things. That is transmit and most importantly enhance the image.
We mentally distinguish between two image types, x-rays and photos (visible light). However in many ways they is really no difference as far as the computer is concerned. Just as a 35mm color slide and an x-ray transparency are different versions of the same photographic technology a digital color image and a digital x-ray are different versions of the same digital technology. The primary difference is in how the image is acquired, yet once it is digitized the computer software needed to work with an x-ray or visible light image is really the same.

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Video Capture: Video capture converts an analog video image to a computerized digital image. There are many ways to do this but most dental offices will use a video capture card installed in the treatment room computer. Any existing intraoral camera can be used with a video capture card. It is not the camera, which makes it a digital system it is what you plug it into. In old analog systems you plugged the camera into the printer in the new digital systems you plug the camera into a card in the back of the computer.
Once the video image is captured the computer electronics can be used to freeze, store, enhance, or print the image. In other words the computer takes the place of the video printer or mavograph, which was at the heart of old analog video camera systems.
Using a video capture card makes the intraoral camera much more effective and saves thousands of dollars over hard-wired video (TV) systems. An analog video mavograph  costs at least $1500 plus the cost of wiring docking stations and TVs. A video capture card costs less than $200 and plugs into an exiting computer.
A new and possible better approach is a direct USB connected camera. These cameras eliminate the need for an expensive docking station, light source, power source, fiber optics and a capture card. They plug directly into the USB port of any computer. The USB port provides the power and captures the images. The cameras have tiny LED lights built in, which are powered by the USB connection. Images are frozen with a button on the camera. The cameras are light, extremely portable and inexpensive, some sell for less than $3,000. The only problem has been limited focus and image quality.

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Look here: CADI [1] for the whole story on another image management software. I like what they say in the headline, When it comes to digital x-ray, Think Software First.

Welcome to CADI – the leading digital x-ray and multimedia imaging software for dentistry. We believe that software selection is your first and most important decision when integrating a digital x-ray or camera system into your practice. The benefits of CADI are outlined in this web site.
CADI offers you a solution to:• Routinely capture, organize and present images for all your case presentations;• Help you and your staff know when to take images; • Build trust and comfort quickly with new or skeptical patients;• Explain more treatment alternatives in less time;• Educate patients; • Explain the limitations of insurance company compensation.

[1] http://www.cadi.net/index.htm

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Look Here: Bodelin Technologies [1]

The ProScope™ is a USB hand held digital microscope designed for both PC and Macintosh platforms. With a high-quality CCD and universal lens mount, The ProScope™ can become a powerful asset to any classroom or lab. Learning has never been this fun… or this easy!
This thing is amazing and one of the most amazing things is the price. The deluxe kit sells for less than $1,000 and a basic is half that. We are seeing magnification cameras being introduced to dentistry priced at $20,000 and up (way up).
This would be a great product for a dental lab.
Plus, it was used on CSI …way cool.

[1] http://www.bodelin.com/

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       Before                                           After

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For years I have been a big fan of the direct USB intraoral cameras like the Suni. The only problem has been limited quality. Now there is a new product from Sota Precision Optics that provides a high quality image, variable focus and still is priced right.
I saw this at the AZ state dental meeting and was impressed. I haven’t yet actually tried it in the office but so far it looks good.
For more information look here:
Product – Claris i310 [1]

The Claris USB 2.0 has the ability to plug and play directly with an USB 2.0 compatible computer. Image capture software is provided and there is no video capture card required.

[1] http://www.sotaoptics.com/products_claris.html

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What is the best resolution your monitor is capable of? If it is new and fairly high end it may go as high as 1600 x 1200. Do the math; 1600 x 1200 = 1,920,000. That is just less than 2 megapixels (A megapixel equals one million pixels).
That means if you pay the big bucks for a high resolution camera and then take images at the highest resolution most of it is wasted. For example if you display an 8 Megapixel image on a 1200 x 1600 monitor then over 75% of the image is tossed out.
Get a good camera for the quality optics and features but don’t waste bandwidth on high resolution images. For most dental uses a 2–3 Megapixel image is great.

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The Canon G-6 is already being replaced by dental camera experts like PhotoMed [1]
The new model is the Canon A610/A620 [2] By the way this is the same camera Patterson is using in their new kit. Here is what the new kit contains:

Everything you need, except the computer. Camera, A610: 16MB, A620: 32MB memory card, high quality macro lens, lighting attachment, memory card reader (for fast image transfer to the computer), hard case and Canon image organization software. The camera is completely assembled, all proper menu choices are set, the memory card is formatted and sample images are taken to ensure everything is working properly. The camera is ready to go out of the case.

[1] http://www.photomed.net/
[2] http://www.photomed.net/a610.htm

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I just got back from the Chicago Midwinter Meeting. As usual it was great with lots of new products and ideas. One that really interested me is the MagnaVu [1] described below. More later.

The new MagnaVu Scope (Patent Pending) from MVD produces precise, clear, highly magnified images that can eliminate the need for magnified loupes or microscopes- No more eyestrain! The MagnaVu allows you to view high resolution, highly magnified images on a flat LCD video display from a more natural, upright posture, similar to medical surgery. In fact, the versatile MagnaVu could actually replace most cameras and microscopes currently being used in the operatory.

[1] http://www.magnavu.com/

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